My first experience - any changes needed?

**Kiddcloud** · 04-07-2013, 12:23 PM

I've been a reader for quite some time and finally decided to take the SR plunge. About a year ago, I made the change from the Gillete Mach-whatever to a DE razor. I loved the difference in shave and the price.

I went ahead and purchased a Dovo 5/8 hollow SR from Vintage Blades and have experienced my first SR shave.

Overall my experience was good. The side of my face was the smoothes I've ever had, but it came at a cost of small cuts.

Shaving under my chin seems like a undefeated task that I'll never conquer. I had to use my DE to complete shave.

Shaving my sideburns seemed impossible as well as I can't see what I'm shaving when both my hands are up there.

I plan on giving the SR at least 6 months before I give a verdict as far as shaving.

Any tricks or tips can anybody share to help me through this learning curve?

**Matt69** · 04-07-2013, 01:37 PM

The chin is difficult, but you'll get there. As you get more used to holding the razor it gets easier.

Keep trying different things - I had the same problem with seeing my sideburn area. Try standing so that you aren't square to the mirror, stand facing slightly to one side of it and looking slightly sideways into the mirror.

Basically it just requires practice, and it helps if you are mindful of what you are doing, so that if a shave comes out particularly well, you can remember what you did and what made it work. That way you can tune your techniques - holding the razor, how you stretch the skin for a particular area, which direction of stroke works best for a particular area, etc.

**JRolonJr** · 04-07-2013, 02:43 PM

I did a lot of reading and watching video on YouTube before jumping into straight shaving. It seems that most people advise shaving the right side of your face with your right hand, and left with your left. I had the same difficulty as you with seeing my sideburns. What works for me is the opposite of most advise. I reach across each side. I shave my right side with my left hand, and left with my right. Switch hands and see what works best for you.

Also, I remember someone suggested this video in another post and I've watched it at least 15-20 times. Each time I notice some subtlety or another.

Chimensch's Shaving Video - YouTube

**ace** · 04-07-2013, 02:56 PM

There is a learning curve with SR shaving, steep at first, then long. Give yourself time to get good at it while your skills improve. The chin is the most difficult area to shave. It eventually becomes quite easy, but you've not developed the skills for that yet. It will come to you.

**Ryan82** · 04-07-2013, 05:24 PM

We always recommend that you master the easy parts of your face first - sideburns to jawline, cheeks - before moving on to the tougher areas like the chin and neck. It's a good way to ease yourself into it.

As for doing your sideburns, there's an easy solution for that: grow them longer

**Kiddcloud** · 04-07-2013, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by JRolonJr

I did a lot of reading and watching video on YouTube before jumping into straight shaving. It seems that most people advise shaving the right side of your face with your right hand, and left with your left. I had the same difficulty as you with seeing my sideburns. What works for me is the opposite of most advise. I reach across each side. I shave my right side with my left hand, and left with my right. Switch hands and see what works best for you.

Also, I remember someone suggested this video in another post and I've watched it at least 15-20 times. Each time I notice some subtlety or another.

Chimensch's Shaving Video - YouTube

Good luck

**Metro** · 04-08-2013, 01:47 AM

I too had my first straight shave ever yesterday, and even though I only did 2 WTG passes, my neck was terribly irritated afterwards. Also, compared to DE, I found the razor was pulling a little bit and I didn't have the nice glide factor I'm use to get. My lather looked pretty good, and I went with a sure thing such as Tabac. Is my angle wrong? I got a brand new Dovo from Whipped Dog which is shave ready. Should I have stropped it first?

**suits123** · 04-08-2013, 06:55 AM

Try checking how much pressure you are using. You shouldn't be putting hardly any on the razor, and make sure you are keeping a low angle. Better to start to close of an angle and work your way to the best angle.

**Kiddcloud** · 04-08-2013, 08:22 PM

Ok. Second time around things went a little better. I only cut myself once this time. Hehe. I tried different holds and feels with the razor, but I'm so comfortable using my right hand for the complete shave. Is that a bad habit I should break now?

I was able to do my neck this time around with the SR, I just went real slow. I have a few bumps, ingrowns, etc. under my neck from previous shaving history. Is there any tricks on getting around those til they heal?

So far so good. Patiences seems vital with SR shaving.

**Matt69** · 04-08-2013, 10:50 PM

I think the dominant hand/both hands thing is very much personal preference. Some people use both, some stick to their dominant hand. When I started, I thought I'd never use my left hand because it's just not as good at fine, controlled movements, but after a couple of months there was a noticeable difference in how smooth the two halves of my face were, so I started using my left and now it's almost as natural as using my right.

Don't worry about using both hands right at the start, I'd say. Get used to using a straight, get stropping and lathering up to scratch, and try using your non-dominant hand if and when you feel the need.

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